Srinagar: After remaining a low key affair during harsh winter this year political activities are likely to get revived in spring.
A politician while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “We have to reach out to people to keep ourselves relevant. We can’t act as mute spectators.”
He said, “After August 5, 2019 (when the Centre announced its decision to revoke Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories) the political situation has changed drastically. We have only two options either to adapt to the changed situation or call it quits.”
It’s in place to mention here that two former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have already dropped enough hints that they won’t be contesting the assembly elections whenever these are held in Jammu and Kashmir.
An analyst said, “Kashmiri leaders are caught in a difficult situation. They are trying to put the pieces together and are struggling to know from where they should begin.”
He said, “During the past few months PDP president Mehbooba Mufti held some public meetings and she was the only leader who made an attempt to meet the people. Otherwise the political activities, especially in Kashmir, have come to a grinding halt.”
A politician said, “After J&K’s transition into a union territory powers of the political leaders have been curtailed to a great extent. Now, everything is under New Delhi’s control. Even if we have an elected government in place politicians will have to get all their decisions approved by the Lieutenant Governor.”
“Till J&K’s statehood is restored politicians will have to remain content with what they will get. Big leaders have realized it, that’s why they are saying that they won’t be a part of the electoral process,” he added.
The politician said that political formations in Kashmir will have to look for new ways and means to keep themselves in circulation. “They have to ensure that grass root workers of their parties don’t get disillusioned, for that to happen they will have to revive the political activities to instill the confidence among their workers that time will change and they too will have a say. These leaders cannot just go into oblivion and remain aloof from the people.”
A leader of newly floated political party said, “Restoration of the statehood is must. Till J&K remains a union territory, politicians will continue to struggle.”
After harsh Winter, political activities likely to gain momentum in Spring
